Faisal Al Yafai
Articles
At home and abroad, Russia is using chaos to create spectacles of strength and security
From Moscow to South Korea, the events of the past week clearly reveal President Vladimir Putin's plan
Appeasing the far right with Dutch burqa ban could have repercussions
Adopting the policies of hardline parties normalises them
Japan’s election revealed the uncomfortable conversations the country needs to have
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emerged victorious at the polls, but vital debates around military legitimacy and a looming pensions crisis are yet to be fully addressed
Duterte's dilemma in the South China Sea
The leader of the Philippines faces an uncomfortable choice – lose face at home or stand up to a regional superpower, with no real backing
Greece's Alexis Tsipras became a victim of his own budget cuts
The prime minister who came to power on a promise of change was booted out in the election because he was simply more of the same
Tunisia's party politics may be fractious, but its democracy remains robust
The strengths and weaknesses of the nation's parliamentary system have both been on prominent display
Taliban talks must provide more than a route to an abrupt US withdrawal from Afghanistan
The future of the nation is at stake and the knock-on effects of a hurried US exit would be colossal – both for Afghans and the wider world
Sadiq Khan cuts a strong and dignified figure in the face of Donald Trump's attacks
The mayor of London has skilfully used the US president's vitriol to position himself as a smart, courageous and likeable politician who stands up to bigotry
Will China and Russia's marriage of convenience be a long and happy one?
While both nations look forward to building a new global future together, irreconcilable differences could drive them apart
Africa's new free trade deal will transform the continent
Freer movement of goods, services and people within the continent will help businesses flourish and offer greater job opportunities to a young population
Abdullah Ocalan's return to public discourse could be a vote-winning strategy for Erdogan's ruling party
Allowing the jailed Kurdish rebel leader to release statements before the Istanbul election rerun is a smart and calculated move
Middle Eastern nations must decide for themselves how to engage with Syria
Washington is pushing for ostracism. Moscow is urging a rapprochement. Each is acting in its own interest, and the region should do the same
With no roadmap to a European future, the people of the Balkans have taken to the streets
For years, EU membership has been the region's driving aspiration. Denied accession, its politics are now paralysed and increasingly volatile
Losing control of Syria’s central highways would be good news for Idlib’s militants – and a disaster for its people
The regime's latest efforts to retake vital roads will not improve the lives of the three million who live in the embattled province
In the Middle East, Russia can deal with everyone and is no one's best friend
Pursuing its own interests and not taking sides places the nation in a position of great strength